UFC Struggle Evening 232’s Amanda Ribas: It is ‘loopy, however good loopy’ to face ex-housemate Luana Pinheiro

LAS VEGAS – Amanda Ribas isn’t any stranger to UFC Fight Night 232 opponent Luana Pinheiro. Actually, they’ve fairly a historical past collectively.

Ribas (12-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) and Pinheiro (11-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) will meet on Saturday’s fundamental card on the UFC Apex in a strawweight bout that streams on ESPN+. It will likely be a reunion of types between the Brazilians, who throughout their youth have been housemates at a youth athletes membership in Belo Horizonte.

“It’s enjoyable as a result of I lived along with her once I was younger,” Ribas informed MMA Junkie and different reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Struggle Evening 232 media day. “The identical home, athlete home with 26 women. Not simply fighters, however gamers of volleyball, swimming too. Now we see one another, too, and battle with one another. It’s loopy, however good loopy. Now I’m right here, and she or he’s right here too, so it’s good.”

Ribas can recognize the very fact she and Pinheiro got here from an analogous nook of the globe and can now be preventing on MMA’s greatest stage underneath the brilliant lights of Las Vegas. Ribas is among the many most outwardly optimistic personalities on the UFC roster, however even she is aware of that when the cage door closes, it might’t be all love.

After going 2-3 in her previous 5 fights, Ribas must get again on observe. She is returning to strawweight at UFC Struggle Evening 232, and she or he hopes that creates an “intense, aggressive” model of herself in opposition to Pinheiro.

“I’m extraordinarily skilled – I have a look at her as my opponent who needs to take my prize,” Ribas mentioned. “So I see her like this now. After the battle, OK, we will take pleasure in Vegas or do a variety of issues.”

Ribas, 30, is coming off a Fight of the Night loss to Maycee Barber in June. Previous to that, she beat Viviane Araujo by unanimous determination in March.

Saturday will mark the primary time Ribas has stepped into the octagon thrice in a calendar 12 months, and though she’s coming off a loss, expects the final exercise will improve her efficiency.

“That is superb for me as a result of that is the primary time I’ll do three fights in a 12 months. That is superior. My purpose goes to go to the highest, and I hope subsequent 12 months I can do three fights, too, or perhaps 4. As knowledgeable athlete, I believe we must be extra energetic.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC Fight Night 232.